Improvement in knitted fabrics



UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE.

GEO. SHAWV HARWOOD, OF NEWTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN KNlTTElD FABRICS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 4 1.2] 8, dated January12, 1 864.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, GEORGE SHAW HAR- wooD, ofNewton, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, haveinvented a new Article of WVoolen Broadcloth Manufacture, of which thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description, in which I have soset forth the process of producing the said article that others skilledin the art may understand and use my invention.

The object of my present invention is to produce an elastic and durablewoolen broadcloth, applicable for making entire garments at a less costthan has heretofore been practicable; and my invention consists in theproduction of a new article of manufactureviz., a cloth for entiregarments, made by knitting, instead of weaving, the body of the cloth,and afterward subjecting it to the several processes which are usuallyapplied to woven cloths. As these processes, subsequent to theproduction of the body of the cloth by knitting, will vary somewhat indegree according to the thickness of the cloth and the finish required,I will state in general terms the several steps taken in the productionof the cloth, leaving the duration or extent to which each step iscarried to the skill of the manufacturer. The broadcloth is knit, in asuitable knitting loom or machine, of a suflicient width to allow forthe milling up, which in this case will be to a greater degree than inwoven goods. The knit fabric is now washed, fulled, or milled, teaselei,and dressed, sheared,

steamed, and pressed, if a finish or face is required; if not, the lastoperations-may be omitted. As the knit fabric can be produced in theloom at a more rapid rate than awoven one, and the yarn does not requireto be so tightly twisted as it does when it needs a sufficient strengthto stand the throw of the shuttle and the beat of the lay of the loom, Iam enabled to produce the cloth at a cheaper rate, while the greaterelasticity which a'knit fabric possesses renders the cloth durable andpleasant to wear.

I have here spoken only of woolen broadcloth; but I wish my invention tobe understood as extending equally to all admixtures of wool and otherarticlessuch as cotton and silkto whichit can be applied.

I am aware that a knit fabric composed of a wool body and a silk pilehas been made that was applicable to the making of gloves and parts ofgarments. This I do not claim; nor do I claim a knitted fabric, such asdescribed in John Hummel s English Patent No. 1,167; but

What I do claim as my invention, and desire to secureby Letters Patentas a new article of manufacture, is-

The knit broadcloth fulled and finished as herein described.

GEO. S. HARWOOD.

\Vitnesses: 1

THOS. R. RoAoH, EDMUND MASSON.

